BANGKOK, 11 December 2013 The Ministry of Finance confirms the protesters’ occupation of many government offices will not hurt this year’s GDP growth but will have a slight effect on the government’s 2014 budget disbursement.
Permanent Secretary for Finance Rangsan Sriworasart said on Wednesday that the seizures of state offices would affect government spending especially the disbursement of investment budget. This year’s GDP growth, however, would be left unscathed, the official said.
According to Mr Rangsan, the 2013 GDP growth rate is expected to stand at 3%. As for the ministry’s economic stimulus measures during the government’s caretaker period, they could be implemented if they were under the jurisdiction of the ministry. The measures which were related to government policy would be reviewed by the Election Commission first since they might benefit some political parties in the next general election, he said.
